diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/Download/DownloadClientTests/SabnzbdTests/SabnzbdFixture.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/Download/DownloadClientTests/SabnzbdTests/SabnzbdFixture.cs
index 1bada7d29..dfe7225e7 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/Download/DownloadClientTests/SabnzbdTests/SabnzbdFixture.cs
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/Download/DownloadClientTests/SabnzbdTests/SabnzbdFixture.cs
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ namespace NzbDrone.Core.Test.Download.DownloadClientTests.SabnzbdTests
         {
             Mocker.GetMock<ISabnzbdProxy>()
                     .Setup(s => s.DownloadNzb(It.IsAny<byte[]>(), It.IsAny<string>(), It.IsAny<string>(), (int)SabnzbdPriority.High, It.IsAny<SabnzbdSettings>()))
-                    .Returns(new SabnzbdAddResponse());
+                    .Returns(new SabnzbdAddResponse { Ids = new List<string> { "lidarrtest" } });
 
             var remoteAlbum = CreateRemoteAlbum();
             remoteAlbum.Albums = Builder<Album>.CreateListOfSize(1)
diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs
index 77f07f558..1183825e5 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ using NzbDrone.Common.Disk;
 using NzbDrone.Common.Extensions;
 using NzbDrone.Common.Http;
 using NzbDrone.Core.Configuration;
+using NzbDrone.Core.Exceptions;
 using NzbDrone.Core.Parser.Model;
 using NzbDrone.Core.Validation;
 using NzbDrone.Core.RemotePathMappings;
@@ -40,12 +41,13 @@ namespace NzbDrone.Core.Download.Clients.Sabnzbd
 
             var response = _proxy.DownloadNzb(fileContent, filename, category, priority, Settings);
 
-            if (response != null && response.Ids.Any())
+            if (response == null || response.Ids.Empty())
             {
                 return response.Ids.First();
+                throw new DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(remoteAlbum.Release, "SABnzbd rejected the NZB for an unknown reason");
             }
 
-            return null;
+            return response.Ids.First();
         }
 
         private IEnumerable<DownloadClientItem> GetQueue()
diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Exceptions/DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Exceptions/DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb9a4c4dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Exceptions/DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+using System;
+using NzbDrone.Core.Parser.Model;
+
+namespace NzbDrone.Core.Exceptions
+{
+    public class DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException : ReleaseDownloadException
+    {
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message, params object[] args)
+            : base(release, message, args)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message)
+            : base(release, message)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message, Exception innerException, params object[] args)
+            : base(release, message, innerException, args)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message, Exception innerException)
+            : base(release, message, innerException)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj b/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj
index 5d23d2250..9fbe860ab 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Exceptions\AlbumNotFoundException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Exceptions\ArtistNotFoundException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Exceptions\BadRequestException.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Exceptions\DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Exceptions\DownstreamException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Exceptions\NzbDroneClientException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Exceptions\ReleaseUnavailableException.cs" />
@@ -1331,4 +1332,4 @@
   <Target Name="AfterBuild">
   </Target>
   -->
-</Project>
+</Project>
\ No newline at end of file